News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

November 23, 2012

Contradicting what 49ers offensive coach Greg Roman said Thursday, safety Donte Whitner said Friday that the 49ers players are under the impression that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday's game in New Orleans. Roman had said that no decision had been made.

Whitner made his remarks on The Dan Patrick Show this morning. A second Kaepernick start would come as little surprise at this point since Alex Smith has yet to be cleared following his concussion. Roman said the expectation is that clearance would occur today. Still, the 49ers have had to develop a game this week, and Kaepernick was the only sure bet when the work week began.

It doesn't hurt that he also had an outstanding game in his starting debut on Monday. Kaepernick's first NFL game came in New Orleans in the 2011 preseason opener. He and Smith struggled badly against an aggressive Saints defense. Kaepernick was 9-19 for 117 yards in that game and threw two interceptions. His passer rating: 27.6.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.